Martin Truex Jr. wins pole at Kansas

KANSAS CITY, Kansas – Martin Truex Jr. is starting first for the first time since 2012.

Truex was the fastest qualifier during Friday’s qualifying session at Kansas, beating out his technically-aligned teammates Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin for the top spot. Truex’s team, Furniture Row Racing, has a technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Truex last qualified first at Texas in April of 2012 and it’s the seventh pole of his career.

Despite never winning at Kansas, Truex has said he loves the track. He finished second in both races at Kansas in 2012 and was ninth in this race a year ago.

The highest-qualifying non-Toyota was Kurt Busch in fourth. Brad Keselowski qualified fifth. 40 cars attempted the race so no one failed to qualify.

1. Martin Truex Jr.
2. Matt Kenseth
3. Denny Hamlin
4. Kurt Busch
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Kyle Busch
7. Ryan Blaney
8. Ryan Newman
9. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
10. Trevor Bayne
11. Paul Menard
12. Carl Edwards
13. Chase Elliott
14. Joey Logano
15. Jimmie Johnson
16. Tony Stewart
17. Austin Dillon
18. Kyle Larson
19. Aric Almirola
20. Greg Biffle
21. Jamie McMurray
22. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
23. Danica Patrick
24. Matt DiBenedetto
25. Chris Buescher
26. Kevin Harvick
27. Kasey Kahne
28. Brian Scott
29. AJ Allmendinger
30. Michael McDowell
31. Casey Mears
32. Regan Smith
33. Clint Bowyer
34. David Ragan
35. Landon Cassill
36. Josh Wise
37. Cole Whitt
38. Joey Gase
39. Michael Annett
40. Reed Sorenson